An English Garner (Vol V)

t ?I56s] HOSPITABLE ENTERTAINMENT THERE. gi
Wherefore, he determined to call to them, for the better appeasing of the matter; declaring his name, and professing himself to be an especial friend to PETER DE PONTE, and that he had sundry things for him, which he greatly desired : and in the meantime, while he was thus talking with them (whereby he made them to hold their hands) he willed the mariners to row away; so that, at last, he gat out of their danger. And then asking for PETER DE PONTE ; one of his sons, being Senor NICHOLAS DE PONTE, came forth : whom, he perceiving, desired " to put his men aside, and he himself would leap ashore, and commune with him," which they did. So that after communication had between them, of sundry things, and of the fear they both had : Master HAWKINS desired to have certain necessaries provided for him.
In the mean space, while these things were providing, he trimmed the mainmast of the jf-esus, which, in the storm aforesaid, was sprung. Here he sojourned seven days, refreshing himself and his men. In the which time, PETER DE PONTE, dwelling at Santa Craz, a city twenty leagues off, came to him; and gave him as gentle entertainment, as if he had been his own brother.
To speak somewhat of these islands, being called, in old time, Insulce fortunce, by the means of the flourishing thereof. The fruitfulness of them doth surely exceed far all other that I have heard of. For they make wine better than any in Spain : and they have grapes of such bigness that they may be compared to damsons, and in taste inierior to none. For sugar, suckets [sweetmeats], raisons of the sun [our present raisins], and many other fruits, abundance: for rosin, and raw silk, there is great store. They want neither corn, pullets, cattle, nor yet wild fowl.
They have many camels also: which, being young, are eaten of the people for victuals ; and being old, they are used for carriage of necessities. Whose property is, as he is taught, to kneel at the taking of his load, and the unlading again; of understanding very good, but of shape very deformed ; with a little belly; long misshapen legs; and feet very broad of flesh, without a hoof, all whole saving the great toe; a back bearing up like a molehill, a large and thin neck, with a little head, with a bunch of hard flesh which Nature hath given him in his breast to lean upon. This beast liveth